After producing Ford cars, Jeeps and outfitting tanks during WWII, the huge complex sat vacant upon closing down in the fifties. Then the 1989 Loma Peralta earthquake forced the city to either fix the building or tear it down. Richmond chose to invest in the building, and after many years of seeking development partners the city finally was able to see the historic complex revived. Current codes would never allow a building to be placed so close to the water, so this was a rare opportunity to create a striking venue on the bay.